Shock absorber



Jne l2, 1923. 1,458,494

H. R. MITCHELL SHOCK ABSCRBER Filed dan. 25 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l @ttoznew June 12, 1923. l,458,494

H. R. M|TCHELL SHOCK ABSORBER Filed Jan, 25 l, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 #my/R Mme@ stares remit HARRY n. MrTones-L, or SEATTLE. WASHINGTON, assrsNon To MTTCHELLTROD- UoTs COMPANY, or SEATTLE, wasHINeTortz-i ycoNroiaa'rroN or WASHINGTON.

SHOCK assesses.

Application sied Januam 25, 19.22. serial No. 531,574.

To all whom t may concern: f

Be it known that L'HARRY R. MITCHELL,

p a citizen of the United States of America,

and resident of the city of Seattle, in the county of King and State of Vlfashington, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Shock yibsorbers, of which the following is a specication. v l

My invention relates to `shock absorbers o f the general type which employ two .seriesof relatively rotative or relatively oscillable friction plates, each series being secured to dilferent and relatively movable` vehicle members. c f f yIt is an object of my invention to provide such a shock absorber in which the pressure upon the spring which regulates the amount of friction between the plates may be conveniently applied and adjusted.

A further object is to provide such a shock absorbervwhich will be completely encased7 enabling it to be run in greaseybu't in which the tension of the pressure-producing` spring may be adjusted independently and exteny nally of the enclosing casing and without removal,k thereof.

A further object is to provide ina shock absorber means for removing all` of the end thrust from the enclosing casingfandplac" ing of all tension upon the friction elements alone.' f c f A further object is to provide a more eflicient shock absorbery of the kfriction type; one that will last longer, andone which may be run in grease without detrimentally affecting its-resistance to shocks. .f Other objects maybe ascertained from a study ofthe following specification and the claims terminating the same, taken in `connectiofi with the accompanying drawings. wherein my invention is shown in a form now preferred by me. vMy invention comprises those novel parts and combinations thereof which are shown in the accompanying drawings,`described in f the specification, andparticularly defined by the claims terminatin the same.

Figure l is an axia section through my Myinvention includes two series of friction plates, one series consisting of the plates Aleakage of oily or grease therefrom.

l. which may be` referred to as the oscillable".k

plates, and the other series comprising plates 2, which may be referred to as fixed' plates to distinguish them from the plates 1.- One of these series of plates,4 as the plates 1, are shown as provided with a series of inserted studs l0, which are ofv a frictional material such as cork, and which form themembers which actually bear upon the plates Q.y The cork studs may be run for long periods in grease without appreciable wear, and without serious loss of their frictional 'holding property. Two series of such plates l and 2 the plates in the two series alternating, are employed.

The plates 2 are secured in some suitable manner to a hub sleeve 3 to prevent relative rotation therebetween. As shown herein the hub sleeve is provided with external longi` tudinal grooves 32 in which tongues 21 of the plates 2 are slidably secured. Thus the plates Qmay not turn relative yto the hub sleeve 3. The'plates l are journaled about the hub sleeve 3. y y

The hub sleeve 3 is securable to af'vehicle member such as the framed. The securing means which khave shown comprisey a threaded trunnion 301 which passes'through aholein the 'trame 4 and which is "secured therein with a suitable nut31, and a series of smaller trunnions also secured in holes in the frame 4t. Any other suitable means may be employed. The trunnions 33 are spaced outward from the axis ofthe sleeve 3 to preventits rotation relative;r toA the frame 4. f f

The series ofplates l are connected to a vehicle member which is movable relative to the frame 4. the a-Xle y carries a ring 63, 'which encircles the hub sleeve 3 and in which aresecured pins 6l.

An armr 6 ofthe plates l. The outer end of the arm 6 is 'suitably connected, as through a link G23 to the axle casing 65 is secured to the arm 6. or to ,the ring The casing 65l is intended to completely enclose the plates'l and and is journaled upon the. huh sleeve 'Suitable packing means, such as the felt rings G6, may be employed at the Ajournals of the casing A65y to prevent A nut 67- threaded about the' free end of thehub sleeve secures the 'casing 65 `in place there- 'f .UPON im() by screwing up on the nut prestherebetween.

sure may be exerted uponthe outer side of the casing to compress the rings 6b A spring 7 is contained within the bore? and transmits its pressure to the outermost of the series of friction plates through suitable means, such the spider 7l which -projects through tbe transverse openings.

Aput 73 is threaded in the end4 of the bore 35, which extends outside of the casing 65, and closes it off. This nut by its adjustmentiregulates the pressure ofthe spring T-upon the friction plates. y

It is not desirable that any of the pressure between the friction plates be transmitted to the casing` 65, as this tends to deforni the casing, to permit leakage about its. journals, and requires a considerably heavier casing than is desirable.l I have, therefore, provided the hub sleeve 43 with aV radially extending flange 37 which fern s a shoulder upon which is seated a plate S. 'lhefplate 8 is supported only upon the flange 37 and preferably issomewhat heavier than the friction plates l and 2. This plate Slis not-'rotative relative to the hub sleeve 3, 'being held by lugs 8l entering the grooves 32, This plate'and the flange 37 form a thrust bearing fon'one side of the series of friction plates, the opposite thrust bearing being composed of the nutr 73. Thus the pressure in each direction is transferred tor the hub sleeve itself, and all friction is generated only between the fric? ytion disks themselves.

As the operation of thedevice willbe obvious'ifro'm the above description, I do not deem it necessary to explain the" same more fully. v

rWhat I claim as my invention is:

l. In a shock absorber, in combination, two series of relatively oscillable friction plates adapted to be connected to relatively movable vehicleparts, a hub sleeve mountedconcentrically of said plates, a springin the axial bore of said hub sleeve operable to presssaid vseries of plates together, and a nut threaded in an end of said hubsleeve and adjustable to vary the pressure of said sprino'. Y

2, In a shock absorber, in combination, twoseries of relatively oscillable friction plates, one series adapted t0 be connected to `awvehi'cle member, a hub adapted to be secured. toa relatively movable vehicle member and engageable by the second series of plates, said hub having a radially projecting flange,N at one endancl acentral bore, a bearingi'platefsupported onlyupon said flange one-series being fixed to.A said hub andthe other series being oscillable relative tothey first series, an` arm fixed to the second series and adapted to be secured to a second vehicle member, and aI spring-pressed spider mounted in said transverse bores and bearingupon said friction plates.l 'l

il. In a shockl absorber, in combination, two series of relatively oscillable friction plates, one series adaptedtobe connectedY to a vehicle member, 'a hub ladapted to be 'sa cured to a relatively movable vehicle memberand engageable by the secondv series of plates, said hub having av radially projecting flange at oneend, a bearing plate 'supported only upon said flange and interposed between'the flange and the friction platessaid hub being axially boredk at its end opposite said flange, and having 'transverse openings intersecting said axial bore, a spider 'passing through the transverse openings andfengag'- ing the outermost of the two-series loflplates opposite said'flangefand bearing plate, and

a spring withinsaid boreoperable topress sleeve being adapted for securement to a vehicle vmember and" having an ,internally threaded bore and an open outer end, a cas'- ing adapted-to be secured t'o a relatively movable vehicle member, and having ineans engageable with said second series of plates upon the hub sleeve and 'servingfto enclose said plates, a spring in the axial bore of said hub sleeve and operable to press saiflplates together, and an 'adjusting' nut "for` said spring threaded in the bore of the hub' sleeve and accessible throughfthe open outer'end thereof, y i

6. In a shock absorber, two series ofrelatively o scillable .friction plates, ahub sleeve having the' plates of `one series Connected thereto, and those lof the second series journaledv thereon, said hub sleeve being adapted for securement to avehicle meinbena casingihavingtwo spaced sides adaptedto be secured toa relatively movable vehicle member, and havingmeans engageable with said secondseries 'of plates ink combination,

upon the hub sleeve and serving to enclosey said plates` the tWo sides of said easingbeng mounted for oscillation upon the hub sleeve et inner and outer portions thereof, packing elements at the juncture ,of the sides of the casing and the hub sleeve to constitute grease retaining elements, a pressure exert`- ing means carried by the hub sleeve and acting; upon said plates to force them `int-o engugem ent with each other and means threaded upon the hub sleeve and exerting pressure against the outer side of said casing. Signed at Seattle, King County; Washington, this 16th day of January, 1922.

HARRY'R. MITCHEIL. 

